H-3623              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1438

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Niemi, J. King, Appelwick, Wineberry, Locke, D. Nelson, Jacobsen, Fisher, Wang, Fisch, Valle and Scott

Read first time 1/15/86 and referred to Committee on Social & Health Services.

AN ACT Relating to public health; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS, is a serious and growing public health problem in the state, and that the only means known at this time to prevent the transmission of the disease and reduce its incidence is education aimed at members of high-risk groups and the general public.  The legislature further finds that unfounded fear of becoming infected with AIDS has caused reductions in donations of blood by persons who are not members of groups at high risk of infection.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     As used in this chapter:

          (1) "AIDS" means acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

          (2) "High-risk group" means any of the following:

          (a) Homosexual and bisexual men;

          (b) Intravenous drug users;

          (c) Persons involved in prostitution, including customers;

          (d) Hemophiliacs;

          (e) Persons having sexual contacts with persons included in any of the groups defined in this subsection.

          (3) "Education" means dissemination of information, through any medium of communication, to the general public or to any high-risk group;

          (4) "Interactive peer group education" means education of members of a high-risk group by other members of the same group;

          (5) "Department" means the department of social and health services;

          (6) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The secretary shall make annual grants, within the limits of funds appropriated for this purpose, to public or private nonprofit organizations to provide education directed at reducing the incidence of AIDS and the risks of transmission of AIDS.  In awarding grants under this section, the secretary shall give preference to organizations showing ability to provide interactive peer group education and to local health departments.  Organizations receiving grants under this section must have been in existence on January 1, 1986, and must have a demonstrated ability to accomplish the purposes of grants under this chapter, including a sensitivity to the issues specific to high-risk groups and the prevention of AIDS.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The secretary shall make annual grants, within the limits of funds appropriated for this purpose, to public or private nonprofit organizations to provide education directed at promoting blood donations by persons not in high-risk groups.  Organizations receiving grants under this section must have been in existence on January 1, 1986, and must have a demonstrated ability to accomplish the purposes of grants under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Funds appropriated under this chapter may not be used by the department or by any grantee organization for contact tracing or for mandatory testing of individuals for exposure to the AIDS virus.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Ninety percent of funds awarded as grants under this chapter shall be awarded under section 3 of this act, and ten percent shall be awarded under section 4 of this act.  Grant periods shall not exceed twelve months.  The department may audit the books and records, other than medical records identifying individuals, of grantee organizations to assure compliance with the purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     There is appropriated  from the general fund to the public health program of the department of social and health services, for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as shall be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.  Not more than twenty thousand dollars of this appropriation shall be expended for administration by the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9.     Not later than January 1, 1987, the department shall report to the legislature on implementation of the requirements of this act.  The report shall indicate the number and amounts of grants awarded under sections 3 and 4 of this act, respectively, and shall describe generally the activities funded by the grants.